It was a torrid end to a horrid week of trading for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this Friday.

After three days of selling this week, today’s session made it a fourth, with the ASX 200 opening in red territory this morning and staying there all day. By the time trading wrapped up, the index had slumped another 0.89%, leaving the index at 8,741.2 points as we head into the weekend.

This rough end to the Australian trading week today comes after a tough night up on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) wasn’t playing ball, dropping 0.6%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared similarly, falling 0.65%.

But let’s get back to the local markets now for a look at how the various ASX sectors ended their respective weeks.

Winners and losers

Unlike yesterday’s session, there were some sectors that escaped the selling this Friday.

But first, it was mining shares that were hit the hardest. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) had an awful time of it, plunging 3.68%.

Gold stocks were smashed too, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) tanking by 2.69%.

Tech shares had another shocker. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) cratered by 2.05% today.

Healthcare stocks weren’t exempt either, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)’s 1.24% dive.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) came next. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) was sent home 0.95% lower.

Consumer discretionary shares didn’t get much love, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) dipping 0.7%.

We could say the same for energy stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) lost an early lead to close down 0.66%.

Our last losers this Friday were communications shares, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)’s 0.08% slip.

Turning to the lucky green sectors now, it was financial stocks that held up the best. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) added a healthy 1.08% to its total this session.

Industrial shares were spared as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) lifting 0.24%.

Utilities stocks matched that gain. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) also climbed 0.24%.

Finally, consumer staples shares proved to be a safe haven, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)’s 0.04% uptick.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today’s best stock was insurer Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG). IAG shares bounced a decent 4.23% higher this session to close the week at $8.14 each.

This healthy jump came despite no obvious catalysts from the company itself.

Here’s the rest of today’s best:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG)	$8.14	4.23%
Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)	$19.61	3.65%
AUB Group Ltd (ASX: AUB)	$27.90	3.33%
Ingenia Communities Group Ltd (ASX: INA)	$3.97	3.12%
Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)	$10.23	2.92%
QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE)	$22.68	2.86%
National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)	$38.72	2.65%
Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA)	$3.04	2.36%
Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB)	$18.65	2.08%
ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)	$37.27	1.69%

Enjoy the weekend!

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aub Group and Challenger. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Brent crude oil price has soared 12.3% in just a week, and is US$108.17 per barrel on Friday.

ASX 200 energy shares are up 2.7% this week, and sector leader Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) has gained 3.36%.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price has risen 5.05% and Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares are up 6.32%.

The surging Brent crude oil price follows news that Iran-backed Houthi rebels have seized a key port town in Yemen.

The town, Mocha, lies alongside the Red Sea, which opens into international waters via the narrow Strait of Bab al-Mandeb.

Why does this matter?

The Red Sea has provided an alternative route for oil supply from Saudi Arabia to global markets during the US-Iran conflict.

The US-Iran war has led to the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the main shipping lane for Middle East oil.

About 20% of the world’s oil and gas supply is shipped from Persian Gulf nations through the Strait of Hormuz to global buyers.

Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest oil exporter and a US ally.

On its east side is the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. On its west side is the Red Sea and Strait of Bab al-Mandeb.

The Saudis have been piping oil across their territory to the west coast for shipping via the Red Sea.

This alternative oil export route has offset the impact of the prolonged Strait of Hormuz shut down on western nations.

The oil flow contributed to the Brent Crude oil price returning to pre-war levels in June amid hopes of a US-Iran deal.

The Strait of Bab al-Mandeb sits at the southern end of the Red Sea and runs alongside Yemen.

The Houthis want to block passage to give Iran further leverage in its conflict with the US.

Saudi Arabia has been attacked by Iran several times as retribution for US attacks on Iran.

What’s happened this week?

Mocha is the second Red Sea coastal city now controlled by Houthis in defiance of the internationally-backed Yemeni government.

There are concerns they will now move further south and seek to take Dhubab and Perim, which sit alongside Bab al-Mandeb.

Trading Economics analysts said the 12% rise in the Brent Crude oil price was the biggest weekly increase since mid-July.

And with no end to the US-Iran conflict in sight, the oil price may remain elevated for some time.

The analysts commented on Friday:

Top US officials reportedly warned President Donald Trump that the war could continue through the remainder of his term, which ends in January 2029.

Meanwhile, Iranian leaders are reportedly determined to continue fighting despite mounting economic costs, viewing the conflict as an existential threat.

They also claim that Tehran has managed to rebuild its missile capabilities and could intensify attacks on US and Gulf assets if Washington escalates its own strikes.

Fighting has intensified over the past two weeks, with the US targeting Iranian oil tankers while Iran launched missiles at US warships and tankers in the Persian Gulf, as well as American assets in neighboring countries.

The US-Iran conflict has added to inflation in many nations, including Australia, through higher petrol, diesel, gas, and electricity prices.

This week’s dramatic increase in the Brent Crude oil price has raised fears of further interest rate rises in Australia.

This is one of the reasons why the ASX 200 has had such a bad week, falling 3.05% in just five days.

The post Brent crude oil price jumps 12% amid Houthi bid to control alternative oil route appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 9 ASX 200 shares earning strengthened buy ratings this week

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP) shareholders haven’t had much to smile about lately.

The property giant has fallen around 29% in 2026, and Friday is adding a bit more pain, with the shares down 3.91% to $4.055.

In addition, CEO Tarun Gupta has sold a number of Stockland securities on market this week.

The transaction is worth around $3.8 million, which is enough to catch the eye given how far the shares have already fallen.

But before investors read too much into it, I think there are a couple of things worth knowing.

Why did the CEO sell?

According to recent filing, Gupta sold a total of 874,721 securities on 7 September at an average price of $4.319.

Stockland said the sale was made to meet tax liabilities, which makes the move a little less concerning in my view.

Gupta also still has plenty of exposure to the company. He personally holds 85,493 Stockland securities, while the Sundara Family Trust owns another 1.86 million. He also has around 1.52 million performance rights.

But what caught my attention even more is what some of the other directors have been doing.

Bob Johnston bought 90,000 securities at $4.57 on 31 August, while Kate McKenzie, Christopher Lawton, and Penny Winn have also made smaller on-market purchases since late August.

What about the business?

Stockland’s FY26 numbers were actually pretty solid.

Funds from operations increased 10.4% to $892 million, while statutory profit rose 20.2% to $994 million.

FFO per security reached 36.9 cents, while net tangible assets increased to $4.39 per security.

At $4.055, Stockland shares are now trading below that NTA figure. They have also given back all of the 12% jump that followed last month’s full-year result.

The company also finished FY26 with gearing of 22.7%, while strong residential settlement volumes helped lift development earnings.

Of course, the market is forward-looking, and higher bond yields and interest rate concerns remain a headache for property stocks.

Would I be worried?

Not really.

I mean a $3.8 million CEO sale is always going to attract attention, especially when the share price is already falling.

But the stated reason was tax liabilities, and Gupta still has significant exposure to the company.

Furthermore, a few of the other directors have also been buying.

Overall, brokers remain positive. TipRanks shows 6 buy ratings and 1 hold, with an average price target of $5.30.

That implies around 31% upside from today’s price.

The post Stockland shares are sinking 4%. Is this $3.8 million CEO sale a warning sign? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Stockland profit up 20% as development surges: FY26 results and outlook

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.